England's women reached the semifinals of Euro 2017 before losing to hosts and eventual winners Netherlands last week and the FA will officially enter into the bidding process later this year to stage the 2021 tournament.

FA chief executive officer Martin Glenn said: "The Lionesses' performances at the Euros this summer gave the country great pride.

"It also showed the significant impact that hosting a major European tournament can have on growing and developing women's football. The KNVB [Dutch FA] and UEFA really raised the bar, hosting a fantastic tournament, and we hope and believe we could meet those standards.

"UEFA share our ambitions to grow the women's game and we believe that together we can host a tournament that would celebrate women's football as well as inspiring the next generation and creating lasting opportunities for all."

Sports Minister Tracey Crouch added: "The Lionesses had a great campaign in the Netherlands and made the country proud.

"The support the team received was phenomenal and the success of the tournament has taken women's football to new heights.

"Hosting the next European Championships would provide us with a great opportunity to further grow the game and attract the next generation of players and fans.

"I look forward to working with The FA as they develop the feasibility of their bid."